Carver-Atlanta senior quarterback Jordan Holden passed for four touchdowns to lead the Panthers over Banneker 39-31 on Friday night in the Region 6-AAAA Division B opener for both teams.
The senior completed 14 of 22 passes for 225 yards as Carver (3-2, 1-0 Region 6B-AAAA) withheld a late charge from the Trojans and avoided a three-game losing streak.
Carver took an early lead by going 56 yards on the game’s opening drive. Holden accounted for 45 yards passing, including a 37-yard score to receiver Tevish Clarke, who caught three of Holden’s four scores.
Banneker tied the score at 7-7 with 2:34 left in the first quarter when quarterback James Boyd hit Antonio Todd with a 5-yard pass in the right corner of the end zone. The connection completed a 10-play, 77-yard drive aided by 25 yards in penalties against the Carver defense.
The Trojans went ahead 10-7 in the first quarter behind heady play from Jahmmir Taylor. With Carver forced to punt, Clarke’s punt netted only 7 yards and bounced free at the Panthers’ 35. Taylor picked up the loose ball and nearly scored before being tackled at the 9.
Carver regained the lead just before halftime when Holden found Clarke for a second time from 57 yards away with 33 seconds left. The Panthers got the ball at their 10-yard line, and Holden threw for 86 yards on the scoring drive.
Holden extended his team’s lead to 21-10 midway through the third quarter with his third touchdown pass, a 21-yard strike to Joseph Mosley. The Panthers took over at the Banneker 24 when another Clarke punt was touched by the Trojans and recovered by Emmett Grier.
Banneker pulled within 21-16 when Boyd found Taylor for a 43-yard score down the left sideline with 36 seconds left in the third quarter. Taylor beat a Carver defender and made the catch right inside the end zone.
Holden found Clarke for a third time early in the fourth quarter, followed by rushing touchdowns from Edward Curney Jr. and Charlie Patrick (11 rushes, 81 yards). Carver led 39-23 late in the game when Boyd found Taylor for a second touchdown with a leaping catch in the left corner of the end zone.
Boyd finished 12-of-21 passing for 198 yards for Banneker. The Trojans (1-3-1, 0-1) picked up their first win last week — 24-13 over Redan — in a game that was pushed back a week because of a mix-up between schools over the kickoff time.
About the Author
